Click to see the full-size image
On November 1, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia signed a patriarchal and synodal document restoring the unity between the traditional Archdiocese of Russian parishes in Western Europe and the Russian Orthodox Church. The event took place at the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal Residence at St. Daniel Monastery in Moscow.
One of the two copies of the document is being handed to the Archdiocese leader Archbishop John (Renneteau) on November 3. The second one will be deposited in the archives of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The restoring of the unity will be marked by festivities in Moscow on November 2-4. They will be attended by an Archdiocese delegation led by Archbishop Jonn (Renneteau) of Dubna.
The Archdiocese of Russian parishes in Western Europe was subordinated to the Patriarchate of Constantinople for about 90 years. Howver, recent Constantinope actions across the Orthodox World and the attempts of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to soldify its control over the subordinated entities via administrative measures lead to the situation, when the archdiocese was forced to cut off its ties with Constantinople.
